In this week’s Fellow Spotlight, we are checking in with Tia Hodge. She fills us in on what she enjoys most about living in the city, and her role at the Suburban Collection.
Tia, as a native Detroiter, what do you enjoy most about living in the City?
I’ve lived in Miami, D.C., Portland and 
have visited cities all over the country and there is no place like Detroit. I love being around other people who look like me and who are making a difference, accomplishing great things, running businesses, and government, etc. Not that this doesn’t happen in other cities, but I believe that African Americans have more opportunity to advance here than in other places because we are the majority in Detroit and we support one another, whereas I’ve seen racial bias and “the old boys system” block progression for minorities in a lot of the big cities that other people clamor about. I think that now many young professionals of all races are beginning to come to the same realization, that they have a chance to make an impression in Detroit that they may not have elsewhere, which is cool.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Detroit?
I love to shop everywhere that I go! So when I’m home I visit Jo’s Gallery in Sherwood Forest and Nandi’s Knowledge Café in Highland Park if I’m looking for art. I like a lot of the boutiques on Livernois and Outer Dr. for weekend clothes, and if I want something to represent the D, I always go to Pure Detroit. I also love to eat, so depending on what I’m in the mood for I may check out Greektown for gyros at New Parthenon, get a seafood pizza from Pizza Papalis, stop at Xochimilcho in Mexicantown for delicious enchiladas and sangria, or visit some of the neighborhood spots like Motor City Soul Food or E&S for excellent fried shrimp.
Tell us about your host-company and what you do?
I am the Social Media Manager for an 
automotive dealership group called The Suburban Collection. I create content for all of the social media sites owned by the group, and provide assistance with content and management for the 30+ individual store Facebook pages. I also provide reputation management for both the collection and all of its individual stores. What I love most about Suburban is that it’s a family owned business with a 65 year history serving Metro Detroit, and the fact that they give back to the community in so many ways.
What is a unique project you are working on at The Suburban Collection?
I’m currently trying to build Suburban’s presence on Google+ through both our group page and various store pages.
What do you like about the challenges?
I like working on challenge projects 
that address quality of life issues affecting the city of Detroit, (such as Challenge #3 with COTS) because I believe that this is the most important work that needs to be done in the city right now, just getting people on their feet and establishing a comfortable standard of living for all Detroit residents. I like challenges that give me a chance to help out with that.
How do you see your prior working experience impacting these challenges?
I’ve worked in a variety of occupations across numerous industries, and I believe that these experiences have given me a broad perspective from which to consider the problems and issues presented to us in our challenge projects. My past work experience has also taught me how to both be a strong team member and a competent leader.
What are you most looking forward to in Detroit?
I’m looking forward to Detroit residents working together to rewrite the narrative of our city, and to rebuild a community that effectively serves all of its citizens.